Her purity and elevation of character, have not less weight in the contradiction of this aspersion, than the testimony of all chiefly concerned in the discovery and punishment of the crime. "After the fall of Charleston in 1780, we are told that there was an opinion current in the American line that Andre had been present within its line during the siege, as a spy." It is but just to add, that, if this story of Andre's having been a spy at Charleston, received credence in respectable quarters, it was afterwards

a Life of Major Andre by Winthrop Sargent.

THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH.

questioned by gentlemen of equal character in our service." "The secret correspondence with Arnold begun in 1779, had, at an early stage, been intrusted by Clinton to Andre's exclusive management.

The information received was valuable and often highly important, nor was it long questionable from what quarter it came. In an elaborately disguised hand Arnold wrote over the signature of Gustavus, -- a pseudonym perhaps suggested by the romantic story of Gustavus Vasa, in whose love of military glory,, undaunted boldness, and successful revolt against the unwonted lords of his native land, he might persuade himself, his own character found a counterpart. On the other part, the fictitious name of Anderson was but a transparent play upon Andre's own. The accuracy and nature of the intelligence soon gave Clinton concern to know with certainty its author; and once satisfied in his mind that this was no other than Arnold, he took his cue from circumstances, and delayed the final consummation until a period when the loss of a correspondent so valuable would be compensated by weightier gains than the individual defection of an officer of rank. Thus he continued to receive the most momentous revelations of our affairs; and it may possibly have been that through these means a knowledge was acquired of the condition of Carolina, that led to the fall of Charleston.'' "On August 3d, 1780, Arnold was appointed to the command of West Point and its dependencies; and it was forthwith concerted that his treason should be fully developed with the greatest possible advantage to the British."